Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said a government led by her party would create a “real and genuine partnership” with farmers.
Ms McDonald said the Common Agriculture Policy (Cap) needs to be reformed while maintaining payments to farmers.
She said her party has a focus on the “family form” which she said is the best model for agriculture.
Asked about weaker polling amongst farmers when compared to the general population, she said Sinn Féin is conscious that it has “a lot of work to do” to engage with rural communities.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, Ms McDonald said: “It’s always struck me that when we talk about care for the environment or the climate crisis, that a narrative has grown up which puts progress on that in one corner, and then farming and agriculture in the other.
“That’s completely the wrong approach.
“When I hear people farmers talking, they’re always telling stories about the different initiatives, the different kind of local things that can be done to actually make a contribution to addressing the climate crisis.
“So I think we need to grasp that and build a partnership.
“We need change in terms of Cap, sustainability, climate is where it’s at, we need a reform of Cap that actually reflects that.
“But that maintains payments that allow farmers to farm and, crucially, we want a focus on the family farm.
“We have a proposal for a commission on the family farm.
“That’s the best unit, the best smart model for agriculture, we want to sustain it and make sure that it’s sustainable for future generations.”
She said farmers are “frustrated” over the EU cut to the nitrates derogation.
The Sinn Féin leader said she was hopeful that rural voters will give her party “a shot” in the next election.
She said: “There’s a real sense amongst farmers in rural communities that they’re not being listened to, they’re not being engaged with properly and I have a sense of frustration.”
